Locomotive boiler firebox



Nov. 5 1946. H. E. MAY

- LOCOMOTIVE BOILER FIREBOX FiledSep'h. 4, 1945 Patent ed Nov. 5, 194a UNITED PATENT OFFICE BOILER FIREBOX .l lenry, E. May, Chicago, Ill.

leg plication september 4, 1945, Serial No. 614,282

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in locomotive boiler fireboiies and it" consists of the 'matters hereinafter described anemone particularly pointed out inthe appended'olaiins'l The invention is more especially concerned with relatively'wide fireb'oXes employing at least three laterall spaced, longitudinally extendin'g'wa't'er steaming and circulating elements 'which "conveniently may be in the" iormbf'the well known Nicholsonthermic syphons. A syphon or this type includes a fiat hollow water wallthat opens at itstop end through the crown sheet and has a bulged bottom which form's'a continuation of an inlet neck in communication witha'lower' part of the boiler of "which the meter; forms a part. When three of such elementsare diseosedm a firebox, the intermediateon'e ha sb'e'en positioned in the longitudinal central plane of the firebox and th'e'syphons are spaced laterally ither'efrern with the bulged bottom and inlet maker-anti said elements disposed in parallel relation ir'ithe same inclinedplan'e. When a'fire'hreh is ployed in such a firebox, certain sets of the bricks thereof are supported in part all three sy" and other sets thereof are supp orted bythe syphons and lean against the adjacent side sheets. With such an arrangement of parts the arm is relatively flat andshallowjhroughout itswidth and the efiective cross sectionalarea of the' combustion chamber is somewhat restrictedand effects the combustion eifigciency of the firebox.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a locomotive boiler firebox structure of this kind wherein better "operational efiiciency is obtained therein Without increasing ltheflc'ost of'the same v t A further object of theinvention is to so arrange the water steaming and circulating elements in the firebox as to increase the effective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal part of thecombustion space of the firebox and thereby 'obtain' more benefits from the burning fuel in the firebox than heretofore possible.

Another object or" the invention is to provide a firebox structure that includes an arch requiring but two patterns for the bricksused therein, thus simplifying the yard storage of said bricks as wellasthe initial building up and the servicing of thearch' 4,7 t.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as'well as others together with the advantages thereof 'will' more fully appear as the 'speoifi'ca tion proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a locomotive boiler firebox embodying the preferred form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a partof the firebox appearing in Fig. 1

as taken on the line 2- 2 thereof.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the firebox therein shown includes a'crown sheet 5'; which merges into the inner side sheets 5, the inner back sheet F and inner throat sheet 8, which is constituted by the bottom portion of a flue sheets.

The outer back sheet or the boiler is indicated at I0 the outer side sheets thereof are'i'ndicated at l I-l l and the outer throat sheet'is indicated at 12. Said sheets cooperate with a top sheet F3 for the boiler in providing the back Water leg l4, the side water legs l5 l 5 and front throat l6 respectively, all inco'mmunication with the water andsteam space ll' of the boiler. The back and side water legs and the front throat are bottomed by a mud ring it and portions of the inner and the outer back sheets are 'fo'rmed'to" coact in providing a fuel door opening l9 that appears in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The structure described which is typical of a conventional locomotive boiler firebox, is suitably staybolted andcertain ones of such bolts are indicated by dotted lines 2El20inFigs.1'and2.

n the firebox are located three laterally spaced, longitudinally extending water steaming andcirculating elementsQeach of which is preferably'in the form of a "conventional Nicholson thermic syphon. In Figs. 1 and2 the side syphonsare each indicated as a whole by the numeral 21-21 and the intermediate syphon is indicated as a whole by the numeral 22. The intermediate syphon is disposed in the longitudinal'medi'al plane of the firebox and the side syphons 2l"-2l are spaced equal distances from the intermediate syphon. All of the syphons are structurally simi'- lar, the only differences being a different disposition of certain of the parts of'the intermediate syphon relative to like parts in the side syphons and a body portion of lessdepth.

Each syphon as herein shown comprises a flat hollow upright body which includes laterally spaced staybolted side walls 2323 andti'ansversely rounded front and rear end walls fifand 25 respectively which at their top ends are formed to provide a laterally extending flange 2E. ihis flange of the intermediate syphon engages parts of the like flanges of the side syphons and all of said flanges collectively are suitably welded together and fit and are welded into an opening provided therefor in the crown sheet 5. Thus the top end of each of said syphons discharges into the boiler water and steam space 11 of the boiler above the crown sheet.

The bottom end of the body of each syphon is closed by a bulged portion 21 which forms a continuation of one end of a tubular inlet neck 28, the other end of which communicates with a lower part of the water space of the boiler. Generally said other end of said neck is fixed in a suitable flexible diaphragm 29 in the upper portion of the inner throat sheet as best appears in Fig. 1. The bulged portion and associated inlet neck of each of the syphons is disposed in a forwardly and downwardly inclined plane as best appears in Fig. 1. However, in this instance the longitudinal axis of the bulged portion and associated inlet neck of the intermediate syphon, while parallel with the like axis; of the like parts of the side syphons is disposed in a higher plane. Thus the body of the intermediate syphon is shorter in height, when considered vertically, than are the bodies of the side syphons.

In connection with the arrangement of the syphons described, I provide two sets of bricks to form a novel type of arch, later to be mentioned, the bricks in'one set being of one pattern or form and the bricks in the other set being of another pattern or form. As best shown in Fig. 2, the bricks of one set are designated by the numeral 30 and the bricks of the other set are designated by the numeral 3i.

The bricks of the set 30 are preferably of a concave-convex shape from end to end and these ends are so formed that they will engage in sup porting relation at their outer ends upon the bulge portion on the inner face of the side syphons and will engage in supporting relation upon both sides of the bulge portion of the intermediate syphon. These bricks in combination with the bulge portions of the syphons provide a channel-like combustion space addition between the side syphons which increases the cross sectional area of the main combustion space of the firebox.

The bricks in the set 3! rest at one end upon an outer part of the bulged portion of each side syphon and extend upwardly and outwardly therefrom to have a leaning supporting engagement against the associated side sheet of the firebox as best appears in Fig. 2.

With the arrangement described, a Dutch oven-like structure is provided. 7 This results in better combustion and radiating effects for the longitudinal central part of firebox under the arch, with the rear end portion thereof more closely approaching the crown sheet on its longitudinal median line. Thus the products of combustion, as they swirl forwardly under the central portion of the arch, impinge against that part of the crown sheet between the side syphons for a better heating action thereof.

Again, with the bricks in the two sets mentioned arranged as described, more space is provided between the side syphons for the workmen in setting the bricks in place to form the arch.

. Also with they parts arranged as described, a more eflicient firebox is provided without increasing the cost thereof.

4 cept as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, laterally spaced water steaming and circulating elements extending longitudinally of the firebox, the top of each element opening through the crown sheet thereof, each element being bottomed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion forming a continuation of a tubular inlet neck that communicates with r a lower part of the boiler, a water steaming and While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form, construction and arrangement of the parts involved, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense and therefore I do not wish to be limited thereto excirculating member between said elements and including a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion arranged in a plane above and substantially parallel with said bulging portions and said necks of said elements and which member opens at its ends into upper and lower portions respectively of the boiler, and bricks supported in part by said bulged portions and said necks respectively of said elements and in par-t by said portion of said member and forming therewith a part of an arch that increases the efiective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal part of the combustion space in the firebox, below the arch.

2. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, laterally spaced water steaming and circulating elements extending longitudinally of the firebox, the top of each element opening through the crown sheet thereof, each element being bottomed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion forming a continuation of a tubular inlet neck that communicates with a lower part of the boiler, a water steaming and circulating member between said elements and including a downwardly and forwardly inclined portion arranged in a plane above and substantially parallel with said bulging portions and said necks of said elements and which member opens at its ends into upper and lower portions respectively of the boiler, sets of bricks supported in .part by said bulged portions and said necks respectively of said elements and in part by said portion of said member and forming therewith a part of an arch that increases the effective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal part of the combustion space of the firebox below the arch, and other sets of bricks, each supported in part by said bulged portion and neck respectively of an associated element and in part by a side sheet of the firebox adjacent an associated element and forming side portions that complete the arch in the firebox.

3. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, a plurality of laterally spaced, side and intermediate water steaming and circulating elements extending longitudinally of the firebox, the top of each element opening through the crown sheet thereof, each element being bottomed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion forming a continuation of a tubular inlet neck that communicates with the lower part of the boiler, the downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion and neck respectively of the intermediate element being arranged above but substantially parallel with the like portion and neck respectively of the side elements, and bricks supported in part by the bulged portions and necks respectively of said side and said intermediate elements and forming therewith a part of an arch that increases the effective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal portion of the combustion space of the firebox, below the arch.

4. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, a plurality of laterally spaced, side and intermediate water steaming and circulating elements extending longitudinally of the firebox, the top of each element opening through the crown sheet thereof, each element being bottomed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion forming a continuation of a tubular inlet neck that communicates with a lower part of the boiler, the downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion and neck respectively of the intermediate element being arranged above but substantially parallel with the like portion and neck respectively of the side elements, sets of bricks supported by said bulged portion and necks respectively of said side and said intermediate elements and forming therewith a part of an arch that increases the efiective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal portion of the combustion space of the firebox below the arch, and other sets of bricks, each supported in part by the bulged portion and neck respectively of a side element and in part by a side sheet of the firebox adjacent said element and forming the side portions that complete the arch in the firebox.

5. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, a plurality of laterally spaced side and intermediate water steaming and circulating elements extending longitudinally of the firebox, the top of each element opening through the crown sheet thereof, each element being bottomed by a downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion forming a continuation of a tubular inlet neck that communicates with a lower part of the boiler, the downwardly and forwardly inclined bulging portion and neck respectively of the intermediate element beingarranged above but substantially parallel with the like portion and neck respectively of the side elements, sets of bricks supported by said bulged portion and necks respectively of said side and intermediate elements respectively and forming therewith a part of an arch that increases the effective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal portion of the combustion space of the firebox below the arch, and other sets of bricks, each supported at one end upon the bulged portion and neck respectively of an associated side element and extending upwardly and outwardly therefrom and engaging at their other ends against the side sheet of the firebox adjacent the associated side element and forming the side portions that complete the arch in the firebox. I

6. In combination with the firebox of a locomotive boiler, a plurality of longitudinally extending inclined water circulating elements spaced laterally in the firebox, both ends of said elements opening through the firebox sheets into the water space of the boiler, the lower ends of said elements opening into the boiler at a point forwardly of the rear ends, a longitudinally extending inclined water circulating element positioned intermediate said first mentioned elements in a plane above the same, said last mentioned element also being inclined and having its ends opening into the water space of the boiler with the lower end at a point forwardly of the rear end, and a firebrick arch comprising bricks extending between said first mentioned elements and the adjacent side sheets of the firebox and being supported by said parts, and other bricks extending between and supported upon said intermediate element and said first mentioned elements and forming therewith an elongated Dutch oven-like channel which increases the effective height and cross sectional area of the central longitudinal part of the combustion space below the arch.

HENRY E. MAY. 

